ECB-president Mario Draghi in debat met Europarlement over optreden ECB tijdens economische crisis (en)

The European Central Bank (ECB) has played a crucial role in fighting the economic crisis in the EU over the last few years, but is there room for improvement? MEPs will vote 17 April on a resolution praising the bank's proactive approach over the last two years but also calling for more transparency. Meanwhile ECP president Mario Draghi i will be debating the bank's annual report for 2011 with MEPs on Tuesday 16 April. Follow the debate live on our website from 15.00 CET.

Over the last two years the ECB has significantly increased its interventions in the financial markets to help troubled EU states regain some control over interest rates on their debts. Debt levels have sometimes risen to levels that threatened to push some countries into bankruptcy, but interventions by the ECB have helped to reduce pressure on member states.

The ECB also works along the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund in the so-called troika, which oversees the implementation of bailout packages. In return for financial help from the EU, some EU countries are now obliged to push through far-reaching reforms and harsh austerity measures.

MEPs will vote on Wednesday 17 April on a resolution on the ECB's 2011 report saying that the bank should be commended for its proactive stance in 2011 and 2012. However, the text also criticises the lack of accountability concerning the troika and its work. According to the resolution, any such body involving the ECB and/or the Commission should be accountable to both the European Parliament and national parliaments.